The 6th Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention was held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, over nine days from March 19 to 27. Eighty-six delegates from the Kushiro region, representing administrations, assemblies and citizens' groups from local municipalities involved in Kushiro-shitsugen, Akkeshi-ko and Bekanbeushi -shitsugen, and Kiritappu-shitsugen, attended the opening ceremonies of the Conference.

The Brisbane Conference was a great success for the Kushiro delegates, who publicized the activities of the Kushiro International Wetland Centre (KIWC), and reported on the Sister Wetland Affiliation Project, through a variety of means such as:

･ A presentation at the Asia regional meeting
･ Distribution of the KIWC Newsletters
･ Distribution of a report (English abstract) from the KIWC Technical Committee
･ Presentation of an exhibit in the Poster Session

The Ramsar Brisbane Conference produced many significant results, including the adoption of numerous resolutions and recommendations, which will greatly contribute to the future development of the Ramsar Convention. Conference developments of particular meaning to the Kushiro region included the introduction of work conducted by KIWC in "Recommendation on Involving Local and Indigenous People in the Management of Ramsar Wetlands," as examples of international pioneering initiatives. Furthermore, the Centre is expected to cooperate in producing guidelines for involving local and indigenous people in the management of wetlands in preparation for the next Ramsar Conference.

While in Australia for the Brisbane Conference, 36 delegates from municipalities related to the three Ramsar sites in the Kushiro region, along with representatives of various citizens' groups, visited the sister wetlands in Newcastle, New South Wales, for three days from March 21. Among the activities during their stay were a visit to Jesmond High School, a sister school of Kushiro Nishi High School, a tour of the artificial wetland at the University of Newcastle, a reception organized by the City of Newcastle, tours to Shortland Wetlands and the Shortland Wetlands Centre, and observation of the Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project.

During their visit to the Shortland Wetlands Centre, the delegates were given the opportunity of experiencing an environmental education program, implemented by the Centre for local schools. They joined students from Swansea Elementary School in surveying aquatic organisms. The program, which makes the most of local features, was organized by the Centre, and was later adopted by school authorities as part of the school's official curriculum. The Kushiro delegates were truly impressed to see en-vironmental education so successfully carried out and they also had an enjoyable time with the adorable schoolchildren.

As part of its efforts to protect the precious wetland and to promote its wise use, the Association of Kushiro Marsh Volunteer Rangers organizes nature observation programs, and also assists with and provides instructors for such programs and similar events conducted by the Environment Agency and other bodies, to familiarize the local people with nature and help them better understand the wetland. The nature observation programs are not limited to the wetland alone; the surrounding areas are also included in programs.

The nature observation programs offer participants the opportunity of direct contact with nature, which refreshes and relaxes participants' spirits. They can enjoy the colorful flowers, crisp wind blowing through the trees, and the chirping of birds. Through these experiences, they will come to appreciate the nature's wonderful aspects.

"Nature games" and other activities are also included in the program, so that participants may enjoy widening their views and getting better acquainted with the wetland, enhancing our desires to treasure and protect nature. We are pleased with the fact that every year more and more families take part in our programs.

Tsutomu Umeda,
President of the Association of
Kushiro Marsh Volunteer Rangers

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